Château Rayne Vigneau

Château Rayne Vigneau - A historical great on the hills of Bommes

Location & Classification: Château Rayne Vigneau is located in the commune of Bommes on one of the highest hills in the entire appellation. In the famous Bordeaux classification of 1855, the estate was categorised as "Premier Cru Classé", placing it in the ranks of the best producers of noble sweet wines . According to historical reports, 200 years ago the estate was considered the second best producer in the entire appellation - only Château d'Yquem was better regarded at the time .

History: The beginnings of the estate date back to the early 17th century, when it was owned by Gabriel de Vigneau. The first significant turning point came in 1681, when his son Étienne married the daughter of the Lord of Yquem and was entrusted with the management of the estate. The estate owes the second part of its current name to an extraordinary woman: Madame de Rayne (née Catherine de Pontac), who acquired the estate in 1834 . It was her commitment and vision that laid the foundations for the estate's later fame.

Ownership structure: The estate remained in the de Rayne family for over a century until it was acquired by Georges Raoux in 1961 . After several changes of ownership, including to the Cordier Mestrezat group, the estate was acquired by the major French bank Crédit Agricole in 2004 . Since November 2015, Tresor du Patrimoine (a major French foie gras producer) has held a significant stake in the estate, while Crédit Agricole remains a minority shareholder. The estate is currently managed by Estate Manager Derek Rémy Smith and Managing Director Sébastien Olivar.

Terroir & winemaking: The 84 hectaresof vineyards benefit from an exceptional terroir with a mixture of grey clay soils, calcareous rocks and gravelly soils . The grape varieties typically consist of 70-74% Sémillon, 24-30% Sauvignon Blanc and a small proportion of Muscadelle. The grapes are selectively hand-picked in several stages. Fermentation takes place in barriques, followed by 12 to 24 months of ageing in French oak barrels, of which around 30% are new each year .

Style & sustainability: The wines of Château Rayne Vigneau are known for their remarkable elegance and freshness as well as their enormous ageing potential . The Grand Vin, with an annual production of around 30,000 to 40,000 bottles, is traded as prestigious and sought-after. The estate's second wine is called Madame de Rayne. The estate is known for its exceptional visitor experience and is committed to sustainability - it is High Environmental Value (HVE) certified.